Mining apparatus



Jan. 13, 1942. L. E. slMMoNs MINING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l w@ 2 M EN www MW mw. MN Nmu NW W He. o/ooo NTN/ l n a u, Ur -l H L RM Q. A WN vf w www; .NN mm Lv n uw Jan. I3, 1942. E. slMMoNs MINING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o f am m my ,a

A. w m Lgf wm a www m m @w %M% f NW \N% Q% Am ma ma Sm Jan. I3, 1942. L. E. slMMoNs MINING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 zawzor: 53122220225 Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEiCE MINING APPARATUS u Leon E. Simmons, Claremont,.N. H., assigner to l Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 24, 1938, Serial No. 226,465

9* Claims. y(,vCl. 262-8) to provide an with a coal cutting machine. Still another object is to provide an improved coal loading apparatus adapted for attachment to a coal cutting machine, and detachable therefrom so that during the cutting operation the coal cutting machine may operate in a conventional manner to cut the coal, While, after the coal has been cut and shot down, the loading apparatus may be attached to the cutting machine so that at that time the loading apparatus operates in conjunction with the cutting machine to load the coal. A further object is to provide an improved coal loading apparatus adapted for attachment toa conventional coal cutting machine and adapted to be driven and fed by the driving motor and feeding means of the cutting machine; Yet another object is to provide an improved coal cutting and loading apparatus comprising a loading unit and a cutting unit, the loading unit adapted for attachment to the cutting unit during the loading operation and detached therefrom during the cutting operation, the loading unit being supported and fed by the cutting um't and driven by the cutting unit driving motor. Still another object is to provide an improved coal loading unit adapted for attachment to a coal cutting machine of the vflexibly fed, room and pillar floor type which is adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over a mine floor during the operation thereof. A further object is to provide an improved coal loading apparatus of the flexibly fed, floor type especially designed to use in the loading of loose coal in a coal mine. A still further object is to provide an improved coal cutting and loading apparatus having novel cornbinations and arrangements of parts. Other uses and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view 0I the improved coal cutting and loading apparatus, showing the loading unit in operative attached position on the cutting unit. Y

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the cutting and loading Aapparatus shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l, parts being shown in elevation to `facilitate illustration.

Fig. 4 is a detail cross sectional view, taken on line i--li of Fig. 3, on a reduced scale.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Figp is a detail horizontal sectional view takenv on line 6 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line l--l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the cutting and loading apparatus in a mine room with the yloading unit detached from the cutting unit and the latter operating to effect the cutting of a kerf in the coal.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the loading unit attached to the cutting unit and operating to effect its loading function.

Fig; 10 is a diagrammatic side elevational view showing the method of moving the loading unit 4into its operative attached relation with respect to the cutting unit.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention there is shown a Vcoal cutting and loading apparatus generally comprising a self-contained cutting unit, generallydesignated I, and a .loading unit, generally designated 2, the loading unit being adapted for use in conjunction with the cutting unit whereby the latter serves as supporting,vfeeding and driving means for the loading unit during the loading operation, and the loading unit being adapted for detachment from the cutting unit during the cutting operation.

The cutting unit l is herein in the form of a conventional coal cutting machine of the flexibly fed, room and pillar, oor cutter type and may be similar to that disclosed in a copending application of Joseph F. Joy, Serial No. 82,153, iiled May 27, 1936, now matured into Patent No. 2,205,012, granted June 18, 1940, although it will be evident that the cutting unit may assume various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. The cutting unit I herein comprises a frame 3 havinga smooth bottom surface 4 on which the cutting unit is supported for sliding movement over a mine floor. Rigidly secured within the lower portion of the machine frame and projecting forwardly longitudinally 'therefrom is an elongated, horizontal, plane cutter rbar 5 having guided for circulation about its margin an Yendless cutter chain 6. Supported within the rearward portion of the machine frame is a motor 1 having its power shaft 8 horizontally disposed and extending longitudinally of the machine frame. Keyed to the forward end of the motor power shaft is a bevel gear 9 meshing with a large bevel gear I0 journaled within the machine frame for rotation about a vertical axis. The gear I is connectible by a sliding toothed clutch I I to a shaft I2 herein arranged coaxially with and journaled within the hub of the gear I0. Keyed to the lower end of the shaft I2 is a chain sprocket I3 engaging and driving the endless cutter chain 6. Keyed to the hub of and driven by the bevel gear I0 is a ver-A tical shaft I4 alined with the shaft I2 and suitably journaled within the machine frame. Fixed to and driven by the shaft I4 is a worm I5 meshing with a worm wheel I6. As shown in Fig. 4, the worm wheel I6 is fixed to a horizontal shaft I1 herein extending transversely of and suitably journaled within the machine frame. Keyed to the opposite ends respectively of the shaft I1 are spur gears I8 and I9. The spur gear I8 meshes with a spur gear 20 connectible to a cable winding drum 2l. The spur gear I3 meshes with a spur gear 22 keyed to a horizontal shaft 23 suitably journaled within the adjacent side wall of the machine frame, and secured to and driven by this shaft is a spur gear 24 meshing with an internal gear 25 connectible to a cable winding drum 26. The cable winding drums 2I and 26 are connectible in driving relation with their driving gears 20 and 25, respectively, by means of multiple disc clutches arranged within the drums, and the cable winding drums are mounted on vertically swingable frames, so that the gears 20 and 25 may be swung out of meshing engagement with their driving gears I8 and 24, respectively, to release the drums for free rotation. The cable winding drums are arranged on horizontal axes extending transversely of the machine at the opposite sides of the machine frame and have respectively wound thereon feeding and controlling cables 21 and 28. Suitable front guide sheaves 29 and rear guide sheaves 30 are provided for guiding the cables 21 and 28 in various directions with respect to the machine frame in the manners well known to those skilled in the art. It will thus be seen that when the drum driving gears are in meshing engagement and the drum clutches are applied, the cable winding drums may be rotated in a direction to wind in their respective cables, and also the feed drum may be rotated to wind in its cable while the cable on the controlling drum may be paid out under the control of frictional resistance.

'I'he improved coal loading unit 2 comprises a frame 3| having a smooth bottom surface 32 for supporting the forward end of the loading unit for sliding movement over a mine floor. The loading frame has an open center at 33 extending longitudinally within the bottom portion thereof, and extending longitudinally along the sides of the open center of the loading frame are parallel troughs 34 positioned in substantially the same transverse planes and suitably mounted on and secured to the bottom of the loading frame. Arranged at the inner side of each of these troughs and extending around the front end of the loading frame is a guideway 35 for an endless drive chain 36 of an endless conveyor 31. This conveyor drive chain is of a well known design and comprises a series of articulated chain links and straps connected together by suitable pairs of horizontal and vertical pintles to render the chain flexible in both horizontal and vertical planes and to permit the chain to follow the contour of the chain guideways. Secured to and projecting laterally from the conveyor drive chain are conveyor flights 38. The flights 38 of the conveyor may be of any preferred form adapted to gather and move the material to be loaded along the trough at the advancing side of the conveyor frame and preferably these flights are secured to the chain blocks of the conveyor drive chain. The conveyor troughs 34 arranged at the opposite sides of the open center 33 of the conveyor frame, each comprise a horizontal elevated rearward portion 39 and a front horizontal bottom portion 40, these horizontal portions being connected together by an inclined portion 4I, the forward portions of the conveyor troughs being arranged near the noor level at the forward end of the conveyor frame so that as the receiving portion of the endless conveyor passes around the forward end of the conveyor frame near the door level it receives the broken coal and moves the coal along one conveyor trough at one side of the conveyor frame to elevate the coal and move it rearwardly to a suitable point of discharge at the rear end of the loading unit. The conveyor trough at the forward receiving side of the conveyor is laterally open at 42, so that as the conveyor flights move within the conveyor troughs, the loose coal on the mine floor is gathered up and moved within the conveyor trough at the advancing side of the conveyor, and as the coal is moved upwardly along the inclined portion 4I of the conveyor frame, the coal is retained within the trough by an upright retaining wall 43. The conveyor trough at the rearward side of the conveyor is provided with a similar upright guard wall 44. Extending between and secured to the inclined portion 4I of the conveyor frame is a transverse frame 45, and journaled within the upper portion of this frame is a vertical shaft 46 having keyed to its lower end a spur driving gear 41, the latter meshing with a spur gear 48 suitably journaled on a vertical shaft 49 suitably supported within the frame 45. Keyed to the upper end of the shaft 46 is a chain sprocket 5I] which engages and drives an endless chain 5I the latter engaging and driving a chain sprocket 52 keyed to a vertical shaft 53 suitably journaled within the rearward elevated portion of the conveyor frame. The sprocket 52 engages and drives the endless drive chain 36 of the conveyor. Pivotally mounted on the frame 45 is the operating lever 54 of a pivoted lock 55, the latter having a locking projection 56 insertble within a locking recess 51 formed in the machine frame of the coal cutting unit I, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the loading unit is moved into operative relation with respect to the cutting unit, the locking projection 56 may be inserted in the locking recess 51, and upon proper adjustment of the operating lever 54, the parts may be locked together. Secured within the vertical wall of the frame 45 are set screws 58 providing adjustable abutments with which an abutment surface 59 on the machine frame of the cutting unit is engageable for limiting movement of the conveyor unit with respect to the cutting unit when the parts are moved into cooperating relation. When the conveyor unit is moved into cooperating relation with the cutting unit, a spur gear 60, keyed to the upper end of the shaft I4 of the cutting unit, is in meshing engagement with the spur gear 48, so that when the parts are locked together, the conveyor chain may be driven from the motor 1 of the cutting unit through the bevel lgearing 9, I-ll, vertical shaft I4, spur gearing 6D,

48, 41, vertical shaft 46 and the chain and sprocket connection 50, 5l and 52. For supporting the rearward elevated portion of the conveyor frame on the top of the machine frame of the cutting unit, the conveyor frame is provided with depending feet 6| adapted to rest upon the top of the cutting unit frame in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Wnen the lock 56 is released, the cutting unit may be moved rearwardly with respect to the loading unit while the forward portion of the latter remains resting in supported position on the mine floor, and when it is desired to move the loading unit into operative relation with respect to the cutting unit, the loading unit may be moved bodily toward the cutting unit simply by extending the cables 21, 28 from the cable winding drums into engagement with hooks 62 secured to the bottoms of the inclined side portions 4l of the conveyor frame so that when the cables are wound in by their respective drums, the loading unit is slid bodily rearwardly over the mine floor toward the cutting unit. As the loading unit is moved rearwardly toward the cutting-unit, the cutter bar 5 of the cutting unit is received within the open center 33 of the loading frame, so that when the parts are in operative cooperating relation, the cutter bar of the cutting unit assumesthe position shown in Fig. 1 with the conveyor frame laterally housing the same. During the loading operation, the clutch ll of the cutter chain drive is, of course, disconnected, so that at that time, the cutter chain remains idle.

The general mode of operation of the improved cutting and loading apparatus is as follows: During the cutting operation, the loading unit 2, as above mentioned, is detached from the cutting unit. For instance, the loading unit may be located at a point remote from the coal face at the left hand rib, in the manner shown in Fig. 8, during the cutting operation. When it is desired to operate the cutting unit to effect its cutting function, the controlling cable 28 is extended around certain of the rear guide sheaves 3D and laterally from the receding side of the cutting unit vto a suitable anchor jack E4 located near the right Yhand rib, while the feeding cable 21 is extended from the drum 26 around one of the front guide sheaves 29 laterally from the advancing side of the cutting unit to a suitable anchor jack B5 located at the coal face near the left hand rib. When the parts are so positioned, the operator may engage the clutch Il so that the cutter chain 8 may be rapidly circulated about the margin of the cutter bar 5. As the controlling cable 28 is wound in by the controlling drum, the cutter bar is sumped in an endwise direction into the coal, and upon completion of the sumping cut, the cutting unit is straightened up and then fed transversely across the coal face by the feed cable 21, to effect its transverse cutting operation, the angle of the cutting unit with respect to the coal face being controlled by the cable 28 of the controlling drum. in a well known manner. Uponcompletion of the transverse cutting operation, `the cutting unit may be angled with respect to 'the left hand rib and thereafter by suitable relocation of the jack 65 for the feeding cable, the cutting unit may be moved rearwardly away from the coal as indicated at A in Fig. 8, to withdraw the cutter bar from the coal. Upon cornpletion of the `cut within the coal, the cutting unit may be moved by 'the'feeding and controlling cables 21 and 28 rearwardly bodily away from the coal face into the Vposition indicatedl` in dotted lines at B in Fig. 8 and the feeding, and controlling cables 21 and 28 are extended from their respective drums forwardly with respect to the cutting unit into engagement with the hooks 62 on the conveyor frame of the loading unit, and as the drums are rotated to wind in their respective cables, the conveyor unit is moved bodily rearwardly over the mine floor until it assumes its cooperating relation with the cutting unit as shown in Fig. 2. The loading unit is then locked to the cutting unit by the lock 55, 56, 51 with the driving gear 60 in meshing engagement with the gear 4B and the conveyor supporting feet 6l resting on the top of the cutting unit frame. After the undercutcoal hasbeen shot down from the coal face, the feeding and controlling cables 21vand123 may -be extended from the cutting unit to the anchor jacks 64 and 65 in the manner shown in Fig. 9, and as the feeding and controlling drurns are rotatedV to wind in their respective cables, the conveyor of the loading unit is moved forwardly in an endwise direction into the loose coal at the right hand rib. AAs the apparatus is moved forwardly into the loose coal; the gathering portion of the conveyor chain at the open side 42 of the conveyor frame engages the loose coal andmoves the coal from the .mine floor upwardly along the inclined side portion 4l ofthe conveyor frame at the advancing side of the conveyor-unit and then rearwardly along the elevated horizontal portion 39 of -the conveyor frame to discharge at the rear end of the apparatus, the loose coal being discharged from `the rear end of the loading apparatusonto a conventional face conveyor 68 which in turn discharges onto a conventional entry conveyor 61. Upon completion of the forward endwise entering movement of the conveyor of the loading unit into the loose coal at the right hand rib, the anchor jack $5 is taken down and relocated in a position near the left hand rib and the feed cable 21 is extended to this relocated jack. When the parts are so positioned, the feeding drum may be rotated to draw in the feed cable, thereby to move the loading unit transversely across the coal face to effect its transverse loading operation, the angle of the loading unit with respect to the coal face being controlled by the controlling cable 28 in a well known manner. Upon completion of the transverse loading operation, the loading unit may be angled with respect to the left hand rib and upon relocation of the anchor jack the loading unit may be moved rearwardly away from the coal face to complete the loading operation. Upon completion of theI loading of the loose coal at the coal face, the cutting unit may be detached from the loading unit and the cutting operation may then be repeated in the manner above described.

As a result of this invention, it will be noted that an improved cutting and loading apparatus is provided whereby the coal may be cut and loaded in an improved manner. It will further be noted that by providing separate cutting and loading units, the loading unit being attachable to the cutting unit during the loading operation, a cutting and loading apparatus is provided which is extremely simple in construction, the loading unit being supported, fed and driven by the cutting unit during the loading operation. It will further be noted that thevimproved loading unit may be applied to a conventional coal cutting machine with a minimum of change, it being vonly necessary to modify the cutting machine to the extent of providing a conveyor driving gear and a locking recess. Other uses and advantages of the improved cutting and loading apparatus will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application speciiically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms Without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a coal mining machine having kerf cutting mechanism adapted to form a kerf in a coal seam and means for moving the machine over the mine oor, a loading machine having conveying means adapted to gather loose coal from the mine iioor, said conveying means having a horizontal gathering portion disposed in horizontal planes near the mine iioor and an upwardly inclined, rearwardly extending elevating portion, means for attaching the loading machine to said mining machine for supported movement with the latter during the loading operation, means on said mining machine providing a power source for said loading machine, said loading machine having a centrally located chamber extending longitudinally of said horizontal gathering portion thereof for receiving the kerf cutter of said kerf cutting mechanism when said machines are attached together, said upwardly inclined rearwardly extending portion of said conveying means extending over the top of the mining machine when said machines are attached together, and said loading machine being detached from said mining machine and supported independently of the latter during the kerf cutting operation.

2. In combination, a frame slidable on its bottom over the mine oor, a motor on said frame, iiexible feeding means including iiexible feeding elements and winding means on said frame and operatively connectible with said motor for controlling said flexible feeding elements, :a conveyor detachably connected to said frame and including an orbitally moving continuous series of gathering elements and guiding means therefor including means for guiding said elements in a horizontal path adjacent the mine floor in advance of said frame and in inclined paths along the sides of said frame, means driven by said motor for driving said gathering elements including a vertical shaft in advance of said motor, a detachable power transmitting connection extending rearwardly above the top of said frame and a conveyor drive sprocket within the orbit of the conveyor and at the rearward end of said orbit, said frame being provided with a forwardly projecting cutter bar having a cutter chain adapted to cut a plane kerf when said conveyor is detached from said frame, and a cutter chain driving sprocket having means for connecting it for driving by said vertical shaft and arranged coaxially with said shaft.

3. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a coal mining machine having kerf cutting mechanism adapted to form a kerf in a coal seam and means for moving the machine over the mine oor, a loading machine adapted to move over the mine oor and having circulating conveying means for gathering loose coal, said conveying means movable in an orbital path with the opposite runs thereof disposed in common transverse planes, means for attaching the loading machine to the mining machine so that it is partially supported by the latter during the loading operation, said loading machine arranged in part above said mining machine with said conveying means extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of said mining machine when said machines are attached together, means on said mining machine providing a power source for said loading machine, said loading machine being fed over the mine floor by said moving means of said mining machine during the loading operation, and the loading machine being detached from the mining machine and supported independently of the latter during the kerf cutting operation.

4. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a coal mining machine having kerf cutting mechanism adapted to form a kerf in a coal seam and means for moving the machine over the mine floor, a loading machine adapted to move over the mine oor and having circulating conveying means for gathering loose coal from the mine floor, said conveying means movable in an orbital path with the opposite runs thereof disposed in common transverse planes, means for attaching the loading machine to the mining machine for movement with the latter during the loading operation, said loading machine having a portion arranged above said mining machine and engaging the latter for partial support, said conveying means extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of said mining machine and partially surrounding the kerf cutter of said kerf cutting mechanism when said machines are attached together, means on said mining machine providing a power source for said loading machine, said loading machine being fed over the mine licor by said moving means of said mining machine during the loading operation, and the loading machine being detached from the` mining machine and supported independently of the latter during the kerf cutting operation.

5. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a coal mining machine having kerf cutting mechanism adapted to form a kerf in a coal seam and means for moving the machine over the mine door, a loading machine slidable over the mine oor and having conveying means adapted to gather loose coal from the mine floor, means for attaching said loading machine to said mining machine for movement with the latter during the loading operation, said loading machine being partially supported by said mining machine during loading operation, means including a power source on said mining machine for driving said conveying means, said loading machine having a longitudinal chamber arranged centrally thereof, and said conveying means partially surrounding said longitudinal chamber, said chamber receiving the kerf cutter of said kerf cutting mechanism when said machines are attached together, said loading machine being detached from said machine and supported independently of the latter during the kerf cutting operation.

6. In combination, a frame slidable on its bottom over the mine Hoor, a motor on said frame, feeding means for said frame including flexible feeding elements and winding means on said frame and operatively connectible with said motor for controlling said flexible feeding elements, a loading device slidable over the mine iloor and including an orbitally moving continuous series of gathering elements and guiding means therefor including means for guiding said elements in a horizontal path adjacent the mine floor in advance of said frame and in inclined paths along the sides of said frame, means for attaching said loading device to said frame for movement with the latter during loading operation, said attaching means being so constructed and said loading device being so arranged in overlying relation with respect to said frame during the loading operation that the loading device is partially supported by said frame during the loading operation, and means driven by said motor for driving said gathering elements including a vertical shaft, a power transmitting connection extending from said shaft rearwardly above the top of said frame and a drive sprocket within the orbit of the gathering elements and at the rearward end of said orbit.

7. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a coal mining machine supported for sliding movement over the mine oor and having kerf cutting mechanism adapted to cut a kerf in a coal seam and means for moving the machine over the mine iioor, a coal loading machine supported for sliding movement over the mine oor and having conveying means for gathering loose coal, and means for attaching said loading machine to said mining machine while the latter remains supported on the mine floor, and with the longitudinal centers of the machines lying in a common vertical plane when the machines are attached together, so that the loading machine in part overlies the mining machine, said attaching means being so constructed and the machines being so arranged that the loading machine is partially supported by the mining machine during the loading operation, said mining machine having thereon means providing a power source for said loading machine, said loading machine being fed over the mine floor by said moving means of said mining machine during the loading operation, and said loading machine being completely detached from said mining machine during the kerf cutting operation.

8. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a coal mining machine supported for sliding movement over the mine floor and having kerf cutting mechanism adapted to cut a kerf in a coal seam and means for moving the machine over the mine iioor, a coal loading machine supported for sliding movement over the mine oor and having conveying means for gathering loose coal, and means for attaching said loading machine to said mining machine while both of said machines remain supported on the mine floor, and with the longitudinal centers of the machines lying in a common vertical plane when the machines are attached together, so that the loadingmachne in part overlies the mining machine, said attaching means being so constructed and the machine being so arranged that the loading machine is partially supported by the mining machine during the loading operation, said mining machine having thereon means providing a power source for said loading machine, said loading machine being fed over the mine iioor by said moving means of said mining machine during the loading operation, and said loading machine being completely detached from said mining machine during the kerf cutting operation.

9. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a coal mining machine supported for sliding movement over the mine floor and having kerf cutting mechanism adapted to cut a kerf in a coal seam and means for moving the machine over the mine floor, a coal loading machine supported for sliding movement over the mine floor and having conveying means for gathering loose coal, and means for attaching said loading machine to said mining machine while the latter remains supported on the mine door, and with the longitudinal centers of the machines lying in a common vertical plane when the machines are attached together and said conveying means extending rearwardly over the top of the miningl machine, so that the loading machine in part overlies the mining machine, said attaching means being so constructed and the machines being so arranged that the loading machine is partially supported bythe mining machine during the loading operation, said mining machine providing a power source for said loading machine, said loading machine being fed over the mine floor by said moving means of said mining machine during the loading operation, and said loading machine being completely detached from said mining machine during the kerf cutting operation.

LEON E. SIMMONS. 

